Текст про Great Britain – топик о Великобритании, достопримечательностях и особенностях. Написание текстов про Великобританию или устные рассказы — популярная тема в школах и университетах.

Great Britain

Текст на английском про Great Britain:

Great Britain
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy consisting of the historical-geographical regions of England, Scotland and Wales (which together from Great Britain) and Northern Ireland, plus several smaller islands, including the Orkneys, the Shetland, the Hebrides, off the Scottish coast; the Isle of Wight, in the English Channel; the Isle of Anglesey, near the Welsh coast; the Isles of Scilly, opposite the Cape Land’s End. They are not part of the United Kingdom, but depend directly on the Crown, conserving extensive autonomy: the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea, and the Channel Islands located in the English Channel, a short distance from the French coast.	Соединенное Королевство – конституционная монархия, состоит из историко-географических регионов , Шотландия и Уэльс (на острове Великобритания) и Северная Ирландия. В составе также нескольких небольших островов, включая Оркнейские острова, Шетландские острова, Гебриды, от шотландского побережья; остров Уайт, в Ла-Манше; остров Англси, недалеко от побережья Уэльса; архипелаг Силли, напротив мыса Лендс-Энд. Не являются частью Соединенного Королевства, но зависят напрямую от Короны, сохраняя обширную автономию: остров Мэн в Ирландском море и Нормандские острова, расположенные в Ла-Манше, недалеко от французского побережья.
When it comes to Great Britain, there is usually some confusion with the names. Great Britain is simply the name of the island, with an exclusively geographical value. It is also the largest island in the British archipelago. Great Britain includes Scotland, England and Wales, while the United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland. In this regard it is interesting to know that the flag of the United Kingdom is the union of three flags: England, Scotland and Ireland.	Когда разговор заходит о Великобритании обычно случается некоторая путаница с названиями. Великобритания – это просто название острова исключительно с географическим значением. Это также самый большой остров Британского архипелага. Великобритания включает Шотландию, Англию и Уэльс, в то время как Соединенное Королевство также включает Северную Ирландию. В этой связи интересно знать, что флаг Соединенного Королевства является объединением трех флагов: Англии, Шотландии и Ирландии.
Great Britain or the United Kingdom is a sovereign country in Western Europe with a population of around 64.5 million. The name of “United Kingdom” is none other than the acronym of “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”.	Великобритания или Соединенное Королевство – суверенная страна в Западной Европе с населением около 64,5 млн. человек. Название «Соединенное Королевство» – не что иное, как аббревиатура «Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии».
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was born with the 1800 Union Act which united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland. A large part of Ireland then separated in 1922 constituting the Free State of Ireland (the current Republic of Ireland).	Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Ирландии образовалось в результате Акта об унии 1800 года, который объединил Королевство Великобритании и Королевство Ирландии. Большая часть Ирландии разделилась в 1922 году, образовав Свободное государство Ирландия (нынешняя Ирландия).
Although the term Great Britain refers to the island and to England, Scotland and Wales in the political value, it is in many cases used as a free synonym for the United Kingdom as a whole.	Хотя термин Великобритания относится к острову и к Англии, Шотландии и Уэльсу в политическом значении он во многих случаях используется как свободный синоним для Соединенного Королевства в целом.
England is the hub of Great Britain, better known to most people and where much of the administration is concentrated.	Англия – центр Британии, более известный большинству людей, где сосредоточена основная административная часть.
Great Britain is among the best-defined regions in Europe.	Великобритания – один из лучших регионов Европы.
The ancient Albion (the classical name in Gaelic) well known to Greeks and Romans like Britain (from the Latin root “fetus”, “narrow”) largely depends on the characteristics peculiar to its geographical location.	Древний Альбион (классическое название, обозначенное на гэльском языке), хорошо известный грекам и римлянам как Британия (от латинского корня «fretus», «узкий») во многом зависит от характеристик, свойственных его географическому положению.
Insularity and the peripheral location of Great Britain compared to continental Europe contributed to its isolation for a long time, at least until the Mediterranean became the center of world trade.	Изолированность и периферийное расположение региона по сравнению с континентальной Европой способствовали его изоляции в течение длительного времени, по крайней мере, до тех пор, пока Средиземноморье не стало центром мировой торговли.
Subsequently, when trade moved to the northern seas of Europe, during the reign of Elizabeth I, Great Britain underwent a profound transformation and became the driving force behind a gigantic human, political, economic and cultural expansion.	Впоследствии, когда торговля переместилась в северные моря Европы, во времена правления Елизаветы I, Великобритания претерпела глубокие преобразования и стала движущей силой гигантской человеческой, политической, экономической и культурной экспансии.
After opposing revolutionary France and then the Napoleonic one, Great Britain experienced a general demographic increase, an increase in agricultural productivity and, in the last part of the eighteenth century, especially in the textile and metallurgical sector. That industrial revolution affirmed Great Britain as “The workshop of the world”.	После противостояния революционной Франции, затем наполеоновской, Великобритания испытала общий демографический рост, повышение производительности сельского хозяйства, в последней части восемнадцатого века особенно в текстильном и металлургическом секторе. Эта промышленная революция утвердила Великобританию как «мастерскую мира».
In 1837, with the rise to the throne of Queen Victoria, Great Britain further strengthened its role as a world power but with the beginning of the new century also ended the era of its expansion.	В 1837 году, после восхождения на трон королевы Виктории, Великобритания еще больше укрепила роль мировой державы, но с началом нового века также закончилась эпоха её расширения.

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Education in Great Britain

Образованию в Великобритании также присуща своя собственная система, описанная в тексте ниже:

Текст на английском	Перевод
First of all, public education in Britain is free. The schools of Great Britain are divided into maintained (state schools) and independent (private schools).	Прежде всего, государственное образование является бесплатным. Английские школы разделены на государственные и частные.
Since the nineteenth century, the school system of Great Britain strongly believes in the decentralization of decisions.	С девятнадцатого века школьная система Соединенного Королевства решительно верит в децентрализацию решений.
Local education authorities (LEAs) in Britain are the local councils, 96 throughout the country, that are responsible for education within their jurisdiction. In fact, the LEAs administer the whole system and are responsible for ensuring that free public education is provided in an appropriate manner.	Местные органы образования – местные советы, 96 по всей стране, которые отвечают за образование в пределах своей юрисдикции. Фактически LEA управляют всей системой и несут ответственность за обеспечение того, чтобы бесплатное государственное образование предоставлялось надлежащим образом.
Education in Great Britain is compulsory for everyone between the ages of five and sixteen.	Образование в Соединенном Королевстве является обязательным для всех в возрасте от пяти до шестнадцати лет.
The phases of the English school system in Britain are three: Primary Education up to eleven years, Secondary Education up to sixteen, and Tertiary Education for those over the age of sixteen.	Этапов английской школьной системы три: начальное образование до одиннадцати лет, среднее образование до шестнадцати лет и третичное образование для лиц старше шестнадцати лет.
Tertiary education or postsecondary education in Great Britain is not compulsory but 90% of the total number of students continues to attend school until the age of 18 when a diploma is obtained necessary to enroll at the university.	Третичное образование не является обязательным, но 90% от общего числа учащихся продолжают посещать школу до 18 лет, когда требуется получение диплома для поступления в университет.
In 1988, the Education Reform Act introduced a program common to all schools with regard to fundamental subjects; at 7 and 11 years, students take exams in English, mathematics, and science.	В 1988 году Закон о реформе образования ввел программу, общую для всех школ в отношении фундаментальных предметов; в 7 и 11 лет учащиеся сдают экзамены по английскому языку, математике и естественным наукам.
Individual schools in Great Britain decide on methodologies and books to be adopted. Private schools in Britain are exempt from following public school guidelines but usually, they also adopt what is called the National Curriculum.	Отдельные школы принимают решение о методологиях и учебниках. Частные школы освобождаются от соблюдения руководящих принципов государственной школы, но обычно они также принимают так называемый национальный учебный план.
While education and vocational education systems in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are broadly similar, the Scottish education system has always been a completely separate system, with its own rules and practices.	В то время как системы образования и профессионального образования в Англии, Уэльсе и Северной Ирландии в целом сходны, шотландская система образования всегда была полностью отдельной системой с собственными правилами и практикой.
Learning is based on experiences, group work and highly stimulating activities that require the full participation of each student.	Обучение основано на опыте, групповой работе и высоко стимулирующих действиях, требующих полного участия каждого ученика.
One of the strengths of the educational system in Great Britain is a great collaboration with the parents of the students. The family is always and continuously involved in the process of learning their child.	Одной из сильных сторон английской системы является хорошее сотрудничество с родителями. Семья всегда и постоянно участвует в процессе обучения своего ребенка.

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The United Kingdom has been a learning center for the last 1000 years and has many ancient and distinguished universities. Соединенное Королевство было учебным центром на протяжении последних 1000 лет и имеет много древних и выдающихся университетов.

Holidays in Great Britain

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Текст о праздниках в Великобритании:

Текст на английском	Перевод
Christmas: December 25th. Certainly in the month of December Great Britain gives its best by combining the Christian culture with the most ancient Celtic tradition. For example, it is easy to meet in the streets children’s choirs singing Christmas carols and twigs of mistletoe and holly, which for the ancient priests were a sign of immortality.	— 25 декабря. Конечно, в декабре месяце Соединенное Королевство приложит все усилия, объединяя христианскую культуру с древнейшей кельтской традицией. Например, на улицах легко встретить детские хоры, поющие рождественские гимны и веточки омелы и падуба, которые для древних священников были признаком бессмертия.
In Great Britain nothing unnecessary should be left in the house the first day of the year, not even the trash, also it is said that the first male person who will enter the front door will bring good luck.	В Великобритании ничего лишнего не нужно оставлять в доме в первый день года, даже в мусорном ведре, также говорится, что первый мужчина, который войдет во входную дверь, принесет удачу.
St. George: 23 April. Day of the Patron Saint of England. On this day citizens of Great Britain wear a red rose in honor of their patron.	Св. Георгий: 23 апреля. День святого покровителя Англии. В этот день граждане носят красную розу в честь своего покровителя.
Easter in Great Britain and throughout the United Kingdom is without a doubt one of the most meaningful Christian holidays. From England to Ireland, from Wales to Scotland, Easter is honored with a myriad of rituals, customs, special and interesting folk events.	Пасха в Англии и во всем Соединенном Королевстве, без сомнения, является одним из самых значимых христианских праздников. Из Англии к Ирландии, от Уэльса до Шотландии, Пасха удостоена множества ритуалов, обычаев, особых и интересных народных событий.
Spring Festival (Last Monday of May). Great Britain, influenced by the Celts, relates the spring equinox to a sequence of events aimed at propitiating the “new beginning”. It is the ceremony that celebrates Ostara, the Germanic goddess of productivity, to whom one is directed for a good harvest.	Весенний фестиваль (последний понедельник мая). Соединенное Королевство, под влиянием кельтов, связывает весеннее равноденствие с последовательностью событий, направленных на умиротворение «нового начала». Это церемония, посвященная Остаре, германской богине производительности, которая направляет к хорошему урожаю.
The English Labor Day in Great Britain throws its roots into an ancient tradition that of the peasants to gather in May in the town square where dances and songs celebrated the fertility of the land and the abundant work by dancing around the May Pole, hoisted in the center of the square.	Английский День Труда имеет корни в древней традиции; крестьяне собираются в мае на городской площади, танцами и песнями отмечают плодородие земли и обильную работу, танцуя вокруг Майского дерева, поднятого в центре площади.
Bank Holidays in Great Britain. There are eight (in the periods of May, August, Christmas and Saint Stephen, New Year and Easter) whose dates vary from year to year.	Банковские праздники. Их восемь (в мае, августе, Рождество и Святой Стефан, Новый год и Пасха), чьи даты варьируются от года к году.
Boxing Day (St. Stephens Day): December 26th. In the nineteenth century, wealthy English families gave their employees gifts received at Christmas which were not to their liking.	День подарков (День Святого Стефана): 26 декабря. В девятнадцатом веке богатые английские семьи дарили своим работниками подарки, полученные на Рождество, которые им не нравились.
The school calendar in Great Britain varies from year to year and is different depending on the school. Specifically, there are differences between local state schools and private schools. Traditionally there are three quarters in Great Britain, with short half-term holidays and a longer summer break.	Школьный календарь варьируется от года к году и отличается в зависимости от школы. В частности, существуют различия между местными государственными школами и частными школами. Традиционно есть три четверти, с короткими полусрочными праздниками и более длинным летним перерывом.

Sports in Great Britain

Текст на английском	Перевод
A cultural element that should not be underestimated in Great Britain is that of a sport. In general. The whole United Kingdom is particularly interested in the sporting tradition but in England, tradition is combined with excellence.	Культурный элемент, который нельзя недооценивать в Англии, – это . В целом, все Соединенное Королевство особенно интересуется спортивными традициями, но в Англии сочетаются с превосходством.
Without a doubt, football is among the sports in Great Britain. The English Championship is run by the Football Association and is the oldest club football league in the world: it was first played in 1888-1889 even though the English Football Association was founded in 1863.	Без сомнения, футбол является одним из английских видов спорта. Чемпионат по футболу возглавляет Футбольная ассоциация и является самой старой клубной футбольной лигой в мире: его впервые сыграли в 1888-1889 годах, хотя Английская футбольная ассоциация была основана в 1863 году.
Second sport in terms of fans is Rugby. The administrative body of Rugby in Great Britain is the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and its offices are located in Twickenham and Middlesex.	Второй спорт с точки зрения болельщиков — регби. Административным органом регби в Англии является Футбольный союз регби, а его офисы расположены в Твикенхеме и Миддлсексе.
Definitely, the most autochthonous sport in Britain is Cricket. It is a very old sport, played between two teams of eleven players.	Определенно, самым автохтонным видом спорта в Англии является Крикет. Это очень старый вид спорта, в который играют две команды из одиннадцати игроков.
Among the most followed sports in Great Britain, there is the Golf. In reality, sport originated in Scotland in the fifteenth century but later spread throughout Great Britain.	Среди самых популярных видов спорта в Англии Гольф. В действительности спорт возник в Шотландии в пятнадцатом веке, но позже распространился по всей Великобритании.
Britain is lucky to have one of the world’s leading tennis tournaments, Wimbledon. Wimbledon is in June when there is the best weather in the UK. It is traditional for spectators to eat strawberries with cream while watching the matches.	Англии повезло с одним из ведущих теннисных турниров мира, Уимблдоном. Уимблдон проходит в июне, когда в Великобритании лучшая погода. Для зрителей традиционно есть клубнику со сливками, наблюдая за матчами.
We talk about equitation as “The sport of Kings”. The Queen of Great Britain is a big fan of horse riding and she herself owns some racehorses. It always takes part in the Royal Ascot, the main event of the year; in fact, it has taken the attribute “royal” for this very reason.	Мы говорим о верховой езде как «Королевском спорте». Королева – большой поклонник верховой езды, и она сама владеет скаковыми лошадьми. Она всегда принимает участие в Королевском Аскоте, главном событии года; на самом деле он получил название «королевский» именно по этой причине.
In the early eighteenth century, the English boxer James Figg (1695-1740) conceived boxing as a sport where it was more important to defend one than to attack.	В начале восемнадцатого века английский боксер Джеймс Фигг (1695-1740) задумал бокс как спорт, где было более важно защититься, чем атаковать.
Loughborough University means the best sport in Great Britain and one of the best in the world. It has an Olympic pool, two gymnastic and sports centers, fields for rugby, hockey, and cricket.	Университет Лафборо означает лучший спорт в Великобритании и один из лучших в мире. Он имеет олимпийский бассейн, два гимнастических и спортивных центра, поля для регби, хоккей и крикет.
The Royal London Yacht Club, established in 1838, is one of the oldest and most prestigious yacht clubs in Britain.	Королевский лондонский яхт-клуб, основанный в 1838 году, является одним из старейших и престижных яхт-клубов Великобритании.
For sailing enthusiasts, there are countries that seem to know forever, because they are inextricably linked to the history of this sport. One of these is certainly Great Britain and in particular, the coasts that overlook the Channel and the Atlantic, where there are famous ports such as Plymouth or Southampton, not to mention the Isle of Wight, theater of prestigious competitions.	Для поклонников парусного спорта есть страны, которые, кажется, известны всегда, так как они неразрывно связаны с историей этого вида спорта. Одной из них, безусловно, является Великобритания и, в частности, берега, выходящие на Канал и Атлантику, где есть знаменитые порты, такие как Плимут или Саутгемптон, не говоря уже об Острове Уайта.

Текст про Лондон на английском

Про Great Britain с переводом на русский, рассмотренные в статье, станут отличными помощниками тем, кто не знает о чем написать или рассказать и познакомят с главными особенностями страны.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) occupies the British Isles and consists of 4 parts: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The country has the population of 60 million people within the land area of 244 thousand square kilometers. The isles are washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and in the west and by the English Channel in the south. The UK is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea. Great Britain is separated from Northern Ireland by the Irish Sea and the North Channel.

There are many beautiful lakes and mountains in Scotland and England. The highest point in the Highlands is Ben Nevis (1 340 meters). The longest river flows in England, it is the Severn. The main attraction in the north of England is the Lake District. Thanks to the warm waters of Gulf Stream the island is very green and the British climate is mild. Local summers are rather hot and winters are not cold. As the weather is very changeable in Britain, it is the favorite topic for discussion with the British.

The capital of Great Britain is London. It stands on the Thames river. The country is a constitutional monarchy and officially the Queen is the Head of state. But it is ruled by the Prime Minister and the government. The legislative body is the Parliament which consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The UK is a highly developed industrial state. The chief industries are shipbuilding, fishing and mining, production of aircraft equipment, electronics, textile and chemicals. The country is the world’s largest exporter of iron and steel goods. The most important industrial cities of Great Britain are London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Edinburgh.

Перевод

Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии (СК) занимает Британские острова и состоит из 4 частей: Англии, Уэльса, Шотландии и Северной Ирландии. Страна имеет население в 60 млн. человек на территории 244 тыс. кв. км. Острова омываются Атлантическим океаном с севера и запада и проливом Ла-Манш с юга. СК и континентальную Европу разделяет Северное море. Великобританию и Северную Ирландию разделяют Ирландское море и Северный пролив.

В Шотландии и Англии находится много красивых озер и гор. Самой высокой точкой в горной местности является Бен Невис (1340 м). Самая длинная река протекает в Англии, это Северн. Главной достопримечательностью севера Англии является Озерный край. Благодаря теплым водам Гольфстрима, остров очень зеленый, а британский климат мягкий. Лето здесь довольно жаркое, а зима нехолодная. Поскольку погода в Британии очень изменчива, это любимая тема для обсуждения среди британцев.

Столица Великобритании - Лондон. Он находится на реке Темза. Страна является конституционной монархией, и официально королева считается главой государства. Однако им управляют премьер-министр и правительство. Законодательным органом является парламент, состоящий из палаты Лордов и палаты Общин.

СК - высокоразвитая промышленная страна. Основными отраслями промышленности являются судостроение, рыбная и горнодобывающая промышленности, производство авиационной техники, электроники, текстиля и химикатов. Страна стала крупнейшим мировым экспортером товаров из железа и стали. Наиболее важные промышленные города Великобритании - это Лондон, Бирмингэм, Манчестер, Глазго, Ливерпуль, Лидз, Эдинбург.

Много знаменитых людей родилось и проживало в Великобритании. Среди них Шекспир, Ньютон, Черчилль, Пол Маккартни, Джоан Роулинг, Стинг, Дэвид Бэкхэм и многие другие.

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Great Britain is situated on the British Islands. It is consist of three countries. They are Scotland, Wales and England. The official language is English. The capital of the country is London. London is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is a very beautiful city. There are many interesting and beautiful places in London. Among them are Big Ben, the Tower of London, the London Bridge, the British museum. There are also many green parks there.

There are many rivers and lakes in Great Britain. We all heard about Loch Ness. There are many mountains, but they are not high. The climate in Great Britain is mild. It is not very hot in summer, and it is not very cold in winter.

Великобритания расположена на Британских островах. Он состоит из трех стран. Это Шотландия, Уэльс и Англия. Официальным языком является английский. Столицей страны является Лондон. Лондон - один из старейших городов мира. Это очень красивый город. В Лондоне много интересных и красивых мест. Среди них Биг Бен, Лондонский Тауэр, Лондонский мост, Британский музей. Там также много зеленых парков.

В Великобритании много рек и озер. Мы все слышали о Лох-Нессе. Есть много гор, но они невысоки. Климат в Великобритании мягкий. Летом не очень жарко, зимой не очень холодно.

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Topic: Great Britain

Тема: Великобритания

Другая вещь, которая привлекает большое количество туристов - особая политическая система, которая существует в этой стране, как вы знаете, Великобритания имеет королеву - Елизавету II. Система называется конституционной монархией. Кроме того, есть одна особенность этой страны - здесь нет такого документа, как конституция, вместо этого существует особый набор правил, которые должен соблюдать каждый гражданин Великобритании. Парламент в стране состоит из трех частей. Это Монархи, Палата Лордов и Объединённая Палата.

Great Britain has many places of interest, that is why the country attracts a big number of tourists. situated in the London city, where you can also find many interesting places. In my opinion, every person who is travelling to Great Britain should visit the London city. There are some interesting facts about London. London is built on the river Thames. , that span the river. The first bridge was wooden and the Romans built it. London is divided of the government.

Великобритания имеет много интересных мест, поэтому страна привлекает большое количество туристов. Среди наиболее известных достопримечательностей, есть Биг-Бен, Вестминстерское аббатство, которое находится в городе Лондон, где вы также можете найти много интересных мест. На мой взгляд, каждый человек, который путешествует в Великобританию должны посетить город Лондон. Вот некоторые интересные факты о Лондоне. Лондон построен на реке Темзе. В городе есть 15 мостов, которые охватывают реку. Первый мост был деревянным и построили его римляне. Лондон делится на отдельные локальные единицы правительства.

Among the special things, concerning Great Britain, it is necessary to mention the famous red double decker buses and the unique red British telephone boxes. Every person who takes big interest in Britishness will also mention the two famous characters – Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. There is also the museum of Sherlock Holmes , where you will get a chance to feel the special atmosphere of the detective stories.

Среди особенных вещей, которые касаются Великобритании, необходимо отметить, знаменитые красные двухэтажные автобусы и уникальные красные британские телефонные будки. Каждый человек, который очень интересуется британистикой, также вспомнит о двух знаменитых персонажах - Шерлоке Холмсе и докторе Ватсоне. Существует также музей Шерлока Холмса на знаменитой Бейкер-стрит, где вы получите возможность почувствовать особую атмосферу детективов.

Another special feature of Great Britain is its climate. As you know, very often the country is called – . There is a real reason for it. Usually,

The full name of the country the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The United Kingdom is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and a great number of small islands. Their total area is over 314 000 sq. km.

The British Isles are separated from the European conti­nent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.

Northern Ireland occupies one third of the island of Ire­land. It borders on the Irish Republic in the south.

The island of Great Britain consists of three main parts: England (the southern and middle part of the island), Wales (a mountainous peninsula in the West) and Scotland (the north­ern part of the island).

There are no high mountains in Great Britain. In the north the Cheviots separate England from Scotland, the Pennines stretch down North England along its middle, the Cambrian mountains occupy the greater part of Wales and the High­lands of Scotland are the tallest of the British mountains. There is very little flat country except in the region known as East Anglia.

Most of the rivers flow into the North Sea. The Thames is the deepest and the longest of the British rivers. Some of the British greatest ports are situated in the estuaries of the Thames, Mersey, Trent, Tyne, Clyde and Bristol Avon.

Great Britain is not very rich in mineral resources, it has some deposits of coal and iron ore and vast deposits of oil and gas that were discovered in the North Sea.

The warm currents of the Atlantic Ocean influence the climate of Great Britain. Winters are not severely cold and summers are rarely hot.

The population of the United Kingdom is over 58 million people. The main nationalities are: English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish. In Great Britain there are a lot of immigrants from former British Asian and African colonies.

Great Britain is a highly industrialized country. New in­dustries have been developed in the last three decades. The main industrial centres are London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow and Bristol.

The capital of the country is London. The United Kingdom is a parliamentary monarchy.

British Institutions

Parliament is the most important authority in Britain. Parliament first met in the 13th century. Britain does not have a written constitution, but a set of laws. In 1689 Mary II and William III became the first constitutional monarchs. They could rule only with the support of the Parliament. Technically Parliament is made up of three parts: the Mo­narch, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The continuity of the English monarchy has been inter­rupted only once during the Cromwell republic. Succession to the throne is hereditary but only for Protestants in the direct line of descent. Formally the monarch has a number of roles. The monarch is expected to be politically neutral, and should not make political decisions. Nevertheless, the monarch still perforins some important executive and legislative duties in­cluding opening and dissolving Parliament, signing bills passed by both Houses and fulfilling international duties as

head of state. The present sovereign is Queen Elizabeth II who was crowned in Westminster Abbey in 1953.

The House of Lords comprises about 1200 peers. The house is presided over by the Lord Chancellor. The House of Lords has no real power but acts as an advisory council for the House of Commons. As well as having legislative functions, the Lords is the highest’court of appeal.

The House of Commons consists of Members of Parlia­ment who are elected by the adult suffrage of the British people in general elections which are held at least every five years. The country is divided into 650 constituencies each of which elects one Member of Parliament. The Commons, there­fore, has 650 Members of Parliament. The party whkch wins the most seats forms the Government and its leader becomes the Prime Minister. The functions of Commons are legislation and security of government activities. The house is presided over by the Speaker. The government party sits on the Spea­ker’s right while on his left sit the members of the Opposition.

British traditional holidays

Great Britain is famous for its old traditions. Some of them existed in ancient times and survived through centuries. Some of them appeared when Christianity came to British isles. Speaking about religious holidays one can’t but mention Easter, Pancake Day and Mother’s Day. The dates of these holidays aren’t strict, they depend on the date of Easter, that varies every year.

Pancake day is the popular name for the Shrove Tuesday, the day before the first day of Lent. In the middle ages people on that day made merry and ate pancakes. The ingredients of pancakes are all forbidden by Church during Lent, that is why they have to be used the day before. The most common form of celebrating this day in the old times was the all town ball game or tug-of-war, in which everyone was tearing here and there, trying to get the ball or rope into their part of the city. Today the only custom, that is observed throughout Britain is pancake eating.

For the English people the best-known name for the fourth in Lent Sunday is Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day. For 3 centuries this day has been a day of small family gatherings when absent sons and daughters return to their homes. Gifts are made to mothers by children of all ages. Flowers and cakes are still traditional gifts. Violets and primroses are most popular flowers. Sometimes the whole family goes to church and then there is a special dinner at which roast lamb, rice-pudding and home-made wines and served.

Easter is one of the most important holidays in Christianity. In England it’s a time for giving and receiving presents, mostly Easter eggs. We can say that the egg is the most popular emblem of Easter, but spring-time flowers are also used to stress the nature’s awakening. Nowadays there are a lot of chocolate Easter eggs, having some small gifts inside. But a real hard-boiled egg, decorated and painted in bright colours , still appears on breakfast tables on Ester Day, or it’s hidden in the house or garden for children to finny. In egg that is boiled really hard will last for years. Egg-rolling is a traditional Easter pastime. You roll the eggs down a clope until they are cracked and broken, after they are eaten up.

Christmas in Great Britain

For most British families, this is the most important festival of the year. This is the day when many people are travelling home to be with their families on Christmas Day. If you try to catch a train on 24th December you may have difficulty in finding a seat. There are a lot of traditions connected with Christmas but the most important one is the giving of presents. Family members wrap up their gifts and leave them at the bottom of the Christmas tree to be bound on Christmas morning. At some time on Christmas Day the family will sit down to a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding.

In the afternoon they may watch the Queen on the televi­sion as she delivers her traditional Christmas message to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. Then they enjoy a piece of Christmas cake or eat a hot mince pie. On the Sunday before Christmas many churches hold a service where special hymns are sung. Sometimes singers can be heard on the streets as they collect money for charity. Most families decorate their houses with brightly-coloured paper or holly, and they usual­ly have a Christmas tree in the corner of the room, glittering with coloured lights and decoration. 26th December is also a public holiday, called Boxing Day. This is the time to visit friends and relatives or be a spectator at one of the many sporting events.

Everyone in Great Britain is waiting and enjoying this holiday very much!

The Climate of Great Britain

Great Britain is situated on islands. It is washed by seas from all sides. That’s why the climate and the nature of Great Britain is very specific. The popular belief that it rains all the time in Britain is simply not true. In fact, London gets no more rain in a year than most other major European cities. Generally speaking, the further west you go, the more rain you get. The mild winters mean that snow is a regular feature of the higher areas only. The winters are in general a bit colder in the east of the country than they are in the west. While in summer, the south is slightly warmer and sunnier than the north. Besides Britain is famous for its fogs. Sometimes fogs are so thick that it is impossible to see anything within 2 or 3 metres.

Why has Britain’s climate got such a bad reputation? May­be it is for the same reason that British people always seem to

be talking about the weather. There is a saying that Britain doesn’t have a climate, it only has weather. You can never be sure of a fry day, though it may not rain very much altoge­ther. There can be cool and even cold days in July and some quite warm days in January. The weather changes very of­ten. Mark Twain said about America: «If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes* but it is more likely to have been said about England. The lack of extremes is the reason why on the few occasions when it gets genuinely hot or freezing cold, the country seems to be totally unprepared for it. A bit of snow, a few days of frost and the trains stop working and the roads are blocked. If the ther­mometer goes above 27°C, people behave as if they were in the Sahara and the temperature makes front-page headlines. These things happen so seldom that it is not worth organizing life to be ready for them. Everyone «who comes to Great Britain says that it looks like one great beautiful park. The British people love their country and take care of it.

London

London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and cultural centre. It’s one of the largest cities in the world. Its population is more than 11 million people. London is situated on the river Thames. The city is very old and beautiful. It was founded more than two thousand years ago.

Traditionally London is divided into several parts: the City, the West End, the East End and Westminster. The City is the oldest part of London, its financial and business centre. The heart of the City is the Stock Exchange.

Westminster is the most important part of the capital. It’s the administrative centre. The Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British Government, are there. It’s a very beautiful building with two towers and a very big clock called Big Ben. Big Ben is really the bell which strikes every quarter of an hour. Opposite the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Abbey. It’s a very beautiful church built over 900 years ago. The tombs of many great statesmen, scientists and writers are there.

To the west of Westminster is West End. Here we find most of the big shops, hotels, museums, art galleries, theatres and concert halls. Piccadilly Circus is the heart of London’s West End. In the West End there are wide streets with beauti­ful houses and many parks, gardens and squares.

To the east of Westminster is the East End, an industrial district of the capital. There are no parks or gardens in the East End and you can’t see many fine houses there. Most of the plants and factories are situated there.

London has many places of interest. One of them is Bu­ckingham Palace. It’s the residence of the Queen. The English are proud of Trafalgar Square, which was named so in me­mory of the victory at the battle. There in 1805 the English fleet defeated the fleet of France and Spain. The last place of interest I should like to mention, is the British Museum, the biggest museum in London. The museum is famous for its library - one of the richest in the world.

All London’s long-past history is told by its streets. There are many streets in London which are known all over the world. Among them Oxford Street, Downing Street and a lot of others can be mentioned. And tourists are usually attracted not only by the places of interest but by the streets too.

British Cuisine

Some people criticize English food. They say it’s unima­ginable, boring, tasteless, it’s chips with everything and totally overcooked vegetables.

The basic ingredients, when fresh, are so full of flavour that British haven’t had to invent sauces to disguise their natural taste. What can compare with fresh pees or new potatoes just boiled and served with butter? Why drown spring lamb in wine or cream and spices, when with just one or two herbs it is absolutely delicious?

If you ask foreigners to name some typically English di­shes,they will probably say «Fish and chips* then stop. It is disappointing, but true that, there is no tradition in England of eating in restaurants, because the food doesn’t lend itself to such preparation. English cooking is found at home. So it is difficult to find a good English restaurant with a reason­able prices.

In most cities in Britain you’ll find Indian, Chinese, French and Italian restaurants. In London you’ll also find Indone­sian, Mexican, Greek… Cynics will say that this is because English have no «cuisine* themselves, but this is not quite the true.

British Literature

Great Britain gave the world a lot of talented people. Many famous writers and poets were born and lived in Great Britain.

Robert Burns represents the generation of Romantic wri­ters. In his poems he described with love and understanding the simple life he knew. Among his wall-known poems are «Halloween», «The Jolly Beggars, «To a Mouse».

Lord George Gordon Byron. His free-spirited life style com­bined with his rare poetic gift makes him one of the most famous figures of the Romantic Era. His famous works such as «Stanzas to Augusta, «The Prisoner of Chillon», «Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, « Manfred draw readers into the pas­sion, humors and conviction of a poet whose life and work truly embodied the Romantic spirit.

Sir Walter Scott wrote the first examples of historical novel.

Lewis Carroll became famous when he published “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”.

The Geographical Position of Great Britain

There are two large islands and several smaller ones, which lie in the north-west coast of Europe. Collectively they are known as the British Isles. The largest island is called Great Britain. The smaller one is called Ireland. Great Britain is separated from the continent by the English Channel. The country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Great Britain is separated from Belgium and Holland by the North Sea, and from Ireland - by the Irish Sea.

In the British Isles there are two states. One of them go­verns of the most of the island of Ireland. This state is usual­ly called the Republic of Ireland. The other state has authori­ty over the rest of the territory.

The official name of this country is the United Kingdom

of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. But it is usually known by a shorter name - *The United Kingdom*. The total area of Great Britain is 244,000 square km.

They say that the British love of compromise is the result of the country’s physical geography. This may or may not be true, but it certainly true that the land and climate in Great Britain have a notable lack of extremes. The mountains in the country are not very high. It doesn’t usually get very cold in the winter or very not in the summer. It has no active volca­noes, and an earth tremos which does no more than rattle teacups in a few houses which is reported in the national news media. The insular geographical position of Great Brit­ain promoted the development of shipbuilding, different trai­ning contacts with other countries.

The Structure of Government in Great Britain

The Queen is officially head of all the branches of govern­ment, but she has little direct power in the country. The constitutionhas three branches: Parliament, which makes lows, the government, which «executes* laws (puts them into effect) and the courts, which interpret laws. Parliament has two parts: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Members of the House of Commons are elected by the voters of 650 con­stituencies. They are known as Members of Parliament. The Prime- Minister is advised by a Cabinet of about twenty other ministers.

The Prime Minister, or leader of the Government, is usually the leader of the political party. The Cabinet includes the ministers in charge of major government departments or mi­nistries. Departments and ministries are run by civil servants, who are permanent officials. Even if the Government changes after an election, the same civil servants are employed. Mem­bers of the House of Lords are not elected. About 70 per cent of them are «hereditary peers» because their fathers were peers before them. The 30 per cent are officially appointed by the Queen, on the advice of the Government, for various servic­es for people.

Meals in Britain

Since the 1970’s eating habits in Britain have undergone a Change. People have been encouraged by doctors, health ex­perts and government advertisements to eat less fat and more fibre. Fat is believed to be one of the major causes of obesity and heart disease. Forty per cent of adults in Britain are overweight and Britain has one of the highest death rates due to cardiovascular disease in the world. Britons have also be­come more aware of calories, the energy value of food. Some people count the number of calories they eat every day, so that they can try to take in fewer calories and lose weight. Food manufactures have started to help the general public to make more informed choices about what they eat.

So the traditional British breakfast is bacon, eggs or sausages, preceded by fruit and followed by toasts. Britons may eat this breakfast at weekends or on special occasions but prefer a smaller and healthier meal to start a day. Lunch is a light meal and is eaten at school or work. Lunch takes 30-40 minutes. Dinner is usually the main meal of the day and consists of two courses.

In recent years, foreign foods have become a regular part of the British diet. Indian and Chinese dishes are particularly popular for evening meals. Take-aways became extremely popular in the 1980’s. The traditional British take-away is fish and chips eaten with salt and vinegar and served in an old newspaper.

The British are famous for their love of sweet things and afternoon tea with sandwiches; scones, jam and several kinds of cake, was once a traditional custom;. Most working people don’t have tea as an afternoon «meal», but they do have a short break in the middle of the afternoon for a cup of tea. Tea is often also drink with lunch and dinner.

National Emblems of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (abbreviated from «The United King­dom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland*) is the political name of the country which consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (sometimes known as Ulster).

Great Britain is the name of the island which is made up of England, Scotland, Wales, whereas the British Isles is the geo­graphical name of all the islands off the north-west coast of the European continent.

In everyday speech «Britain» is used to mean the United Kingdom.

The flag of the United Kingdom, known as the Union Yack, is made up of three crosses. The upright red cross on a white background is the cross of the 1st George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross on a blue back­ground is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scot­land. The red diagonal cross on a white background is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

The Welsh flag, called the Welsh dragon, represents a red dragon on a white and green background.

St. George’s Day falls on 23 April and is regarded as England’s national day. On this day some patriotic English­men wear a rose pinned to their jackets. A red rose is the

national emblem of England from the time of the Wars of the Roses (15th century).

St. Andrew’s Day (the 30th of November) is regarded as Scotland’s national day. On this day some Scotsmen wear a thistle in their buttonhole. As a national emblem of Scotland, thistle apparently first used in the 15th century as a symbol of defence. The Order of the Thistle is one of the highest orders of knighthood. It was founded in 1687, and is mainly given to Scottish noblemen (limited to 16 in number).

St. Patrick’s Day (the 17th of March) is considered as a national day in Northern Ireland and an official bank holi­day there. The national emblem of Ireland is shamrock. Ac­cording to legend, it was the plant chosen by St. Patrick to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish.

St. David’s Day (the 1st of March) is the church festival of St. David, a 6th-century monk and bishop, the patron saint of Wales. The day is regarded as the national holiday of Wales, although it is not an official bank holiday.

On this day, however, many Welshmen wear either a yellow daffodil or a leek pinned to their jackets, as both plants are traditionally regarded as national emblems of Wales.

In the Royal Arms three lions symbolize England, a lion rampant - Scotland, and a harp - Ireland. The whole is encircled and is supported by a lion and a unicorn. The lion has been used as a symbol of national strength and of the British monarchy for many centuries. The unicorn, a mythical animal that looks like a horse with a long straight horn, has appeared on the Scottish and British royal coats of arms for many centuries, and is a symbol of purity.

Newspapers in Britain

If you get on a bus or catch a train in Britain, especially during the morning and evening *rush hour», you’ll see a lot of people reading newspapers. The press tells us about various political views, interest and levels of education. Pa­pers are usually divided into «quality» papers which are seri­ous with long, informative articles and *popular* which have smaller size. They are less serious and contain more human interest stories than news.

More daily newspapers, national and regional are sold in Great Britain than in most other developed countries. There are about 135 daily papers and Sunday papers, 2000 weekly

papers and about 100 papers produced by members of ethnic groups.

A lot of people buy a morning paper, an evening paper and a couple of Sunday papers. On an average day two out of three people over the age of 15 read a national morning paper, about three out of four read a Sunday paper. So it’s not surprising to learn that national newspapers have a circulation of 15.8 million copies on weekdays and 19 million on Sundays.

Newspapers are almost always financially independent of any political party. However, during general election cam­paigns many papers recommend their readers to vote for a particular political party. Ownership of the national London and regional daily newspapers is concentrated in the hands of large press publishing groups.

Outstanding Events in the History of Great Britain

There were many outstanding events in the history of Great Britain. Many different tribes tried to control the terri­tory of Britain. England was added to the Roman Empire in 43 A.D. Roman invasion played a very important role in the history of the country. The Roman built the first roads in the country, dug the first walls. The Romans, who were great architects, constructed the first towns in Britain.

But the Normans influenced the British civilization most of all. They came in 1066 under the leadership of William the Conqueror. As the invaders spoke French, their speech influenced the English language.

Once the British had to face the French in 1805 at the battle of Trafalgar. Then Admiral Nelson won a great victory over the French fleet. In order to commemorate this event the monument to Admiral Nelson was erected on this square.

In the 18th century technological and commercial innova­tion led to the Industrial Revolution. The 13 North American Colonies were lost, but replaced by colonies in Canada and India.

The beginning of the 20th century coincided with the beginning of the decline of the British Empire. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa became dominions and drew up their constitutions. Britain was no longer the greatest world power. Germany was rapidly becoming the major economic power in Europe.

The rivalry between the great European powers led to the outbreak of World War I in 1914. After four years of bitter fighting the war ended in victory for the Allied Powers of Britain, France, Italy and the USA. Germany was defeated. The destruction was terrible, there were more than 10 million killed.

The war was followed by a period of depression in economy. It was a period of great social unrest. Unemployment was high, wages low and there were numerous strikes. From 1930 to 1933 three million British people out of the total workforce of 14 million were unemployed.

Britain was soon involved into another war. After Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Led by Prime Minister Winston Churchill Britain fought against Germany in the alliance with the Soviet Union and the USA. Germany surrendered in May 1945. The war had cost Britain a quarter of its national wealth.

Between 1945 and 1965 more than 500 million people in former British colonies became self-governing. India, Pakistan, Ceylon and Burma became independent and joined the Commonwealth as free and equal members.

In the 1970s and 1980s Britain experienced new social problems connected with the arrival of immigrants. By 1990 there were 5 million immigrants in Britain. The government passed laws to prevent unequal treatment of immigrants, but also to control the number of immigrants coming to Britain.

Places of Interest in Great Britain

Britain is rich in its historic places which link the present with the past.

The oldest part of London is Lud Hill, where the city is originated. About a mile west of it there is Westminster Pa­lace, where the king lived and the Parliament met, and there is also Westminster Abbey, the coronation church.

Liverpool, the «city of ships», is England’s second grea­test port, ranking after London. The most interesting sight in the Liverpool is the docks. They occupy a river frontage of seven miles. The University of Liverpool, established in 1903, is noted for its School of Tropical Medicine. And in the music world Liverpool is a well-known name, for it’s the home town of «The Beatles*.

Cambridge and Oxford Universities are famous centres of learning.

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument, presumably built by Druids, members of an order of priests in ancient Britain. Tintagel Castle is King Arthur’s reputed birthplace. Canter­bury Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England.

The British Museum is the largest and richest museum in the world. It was founded in 1753 and contains one of the world’s richest collections of antiquities. The Egyptian Gal­leries contain human and animal mummies. Some parts of Athens’ Parthenon are in the Greek section.

Madam Tussaud’s Museum is an exhibition of hundreds

of life-size wax models of famous people of yesterday and today. The collection was started by Madam Tussaud, a French modeller in wax, in the 18th century. Here you can meet Marilyn Monroe, Elton John, Picasso, the Royal Family, the Beatles and many others: writers, movie stars, singers, politi­cians, sportsmen, etc.

Sport in Great Britain

Sport plays such a large part in British life that many idioms in the English language have come from the world of sport. For example, «that’s not cricket* means «that’s not fair» and «to play the game* means «to be fair». The most popular sport in England is football. A lot of people support their local clubs at matches on Saturday afternoons or watch the matches on television.

The football league in England and Wales has four divi-

sions. Each division contains twenty teams. There are two main prizes each season. The football league championship is won by the team that is top of the first division. The final of this competition takes place every May at the famous Wemb­ley stadium in London. Some of the best-known clubs in En­gland are Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. But many clubs have problems with money at the moment. Some people say that the league is too big and that the players get paid too much. Others say that television is making the crowds stay at home.

Sport has for a long time been a very important part of a child’s education in Britain, not just - as you may think to develop physical abilities, but also to provide a certain kind of moral education. Team games encourage such social qualities as enthusiasm, cooperation, loyalty and unselfishness.

The British Media

The British Media consists of the press and radio and TV broadcasting.

Now a couple of words about papers. First of all there is no subscription. You may buy any on sale. There are two main types of newspapers: the «popular» papers and the «qua-lity» papers.

The popular papers are less in size, with many pictures, big headlines and short articles. They are easy to read. They are such papers as «Daily Express*, « Daily mail», «Daily Mirror», «Daily Star», «The Sun» and others.

The «quality» papers are for more serious readership. These papers are bigger in size, with larger articles and more detailed information. The «quality» papers are - «The Times*, «Daily Telegraph*, «The Guardian*, «Financial Times*, «The Independent*.

In addition to daily papers we. have just mentioned above there are Sunday papers. They have a higher circulation than the dailies. Sunday papers in Great Britain are such «quality» papers as « Observer*, «Sunday Times», «Sunday Telegraph* and such «popular* papers as: «News of the World*, «Sun-day Express*, «Sunday Mirror*, «Mail on Sunday*.

As far as broadcasting and telecasting are concerned there are two radio and TV stations. The first one - well-known BBC - British Broadcasting Corporation, and the second - IBA - Independent Broadcasting Authorities.

The newspapers in Britain are proud of the fact that they are different from each other - each tries to have a definite profile.

The British Painters

William Turner , a great romantic English landscape painter, was born in Devonshire in 1775. He lived with his uncle in Middlesex, where he began to attend school. His first dra­wings are dated 1787, when he was only twelve years of age. His childish sketch-books, filled with drawings, are still pre­served in the British Museum.

When he was 21, he began to exhibit oil paintings. As a landscape painter Turner was interested mainly in light and colour effects. One of his famous paintings is even called “Light and Colour”.Turner died in London in 1851. His pictures and draw­ings became the property of the British nation.

William Turner is considered to be one of the world grea­test painters.

John Constable is a master of landscape painting in the romantic style. Constable was the first who introduced green into painting.

He was the son of a miller in Bergholt. He went to London in 1799 to study painting at the Royal Academy schools.

He exhibited his first landscape paintings in 1802. He was fascinated by reflections in water and light on clouds, and produced many cloud studies. Many of his paintings depict the countryside of the Stour River valley in Suffolk where he had grown up. He often painted in the open air, but he usually finished his canvases in the studio.

Constable’s works include The Cornfield (1826, National Gallery, London), Dedham Lock and Mill in 1820.

Thomas Gainsborough , (1727-1788), English painter, considered one of the great masters of portraiture and landscape painting. Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He showed artistic ability at an early age, and when he was 15 years old he studied drawing and etching in London with French engraver Hubert Gravelot. From 1760 to 1774 he lived in Bath, a fashionable health resort, where he painted numerous portraits and landscapes. In 1774 he painted, by royal invitation, portraits of King George III and the queen consort, Charlotte Sophia. He was the favorite painter of the British aristocracy.

Gainsborough executed more than 500 paintings, of which more than 200 are portraits. His portraits are characterized, by poetic charm, and by cool and fresh colors. His most famous portraits include Orpin, the Parish Clerk (Tate Gallery, London); The Baillie Family (1784) and Mrs. Siddons (1785).

The Most Popular British Writers

The Bronte sister, Charlotte (1816-1855), Emily (1818- 1848) and Anne (1820-1849), were three talented 19th cen­tury women novelists whose works are regarded as classics today. Charlotte is best known for her novel «Jane Eyre».

The novels of Jane Austen are known for their subtlery of observation and irony, together with their insights into the provincial life of the middle-class in the early part of 19th

century. Her works include «Emma», « Pride and Prejudice* and others.

One of the most widely known English poets is remarkable because his work has been transcribed, published, read and comment on since his death. He is Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1345- 1400). His best known work is «The Canterbury Tales*, a collection of tales. Chaucer is buried in Westminster Abbey.

The Problem of Environmental Protection in Great Britain

Environmental protection is an international issue of great importance and Great Britain pays much attention to it. There are nearly 500 000 protected buildings and 7000 conserva­tion areas of architecture of historical interest in Britain. The Government supports the work of the voluntary sector in preserving the national heritage.

Total emissions of smoke in the air have fallen by 85 per cent since 1960. Most petrol stations in Britain stock unlea­ded petrol. The Government is committed to the control of gases emission, which damage the ozone layer. They also con­tribute to the greenhouse effect, which leads to global war­ming and a rise in sea levels. Britain stresses the need for studying the science of climate change.

Green belts are areas where land should be left open and free from urban sprawl. The Government attaches great importance to their protection. National parks cover 9 per cent of the total land area of England and Wales. The National Rivers Authority protects island waters in En­gland and Wales. In Scotland the River purification autho­rities are responsible for water pollution control. Great Britain takes care of its environment for themselves and next generations.

The Towns of Great Britain

The centre of everything in Great Britain is the city of London. It’s situated at the centre of a vast national and international network of communication. London consists of four main districts, which differ from each other. These are the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End.

London’s industries are extremely varied. Among them an extensive system of docks and port industries, electrical engineering, the motor car industry and other.

The other towns, situated to the north of the Thames are Oxford and Cambridge.

Oxford was first mentioned in recorded history in the tenth century and later became an important trade centre in medieval times, then it developed into leading educational centre.

Cambridge is also best known for its ancient university. Its industries are mostly concerned with electronics which has an international reputation.

Bristol dominates South-west England, both as the region’s largest seaport and as its largest city. It is a major centre of metallurgy, aircraft and chemical industries.

Of the towns situated in the south of England the largest ones are Southampton, Portsmouth and Brighton.

Southampton is primarily a seaport, the most important on the south coast.

Brighton is sne of the most popular seaside resorts of Britain. It has mild climate, warm sea and wonderful bea­ches.

Manchester is a city of ancient origin. By the 17th centu­ry it was great commercial city, a centre of textile industry. Now engineering along with clothing manufacture are most important industries there.

Sheffield, situated in South Yorkshire, produces almost

two-thirds of the country’s alloy steel, it is famous for its tools and cutlery. Other industries include paper making machinery and food processing.

In North Yorkshire the largest town is York. Its leading industries are engineering and manufacture of confectio­nery. York attracts many tourists because of its famous me­dieval city walls.